Forming machine



May 4, 1948- G. o. CONNER FORMING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6w SE C DfiNER May 4, 1948. G. 0. CONNER FORMING MACHINE Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .GUY Q CONNER G. O. CONNER FORMING MACHINE May 4, 1948.

Filed May 29, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR GUY QCONNER Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE" FORMING MACHINE Guy 0. Conner, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application n... 29, 1940, Serial No. 672,958

This invention relates to forming machines and particularly to forming machines for high speed operation. It relates more particularly to machines through which work is passed and which act on the work with rapid successive operations. The term forming machine" is used herein as a term of definition and not of limitation; my invention is applicable to practically all operations which may be performed on work passed through the machine-examples are stamping, die-forming, plastic molding, ceramic molding, extrusion, printing, etc.

My invention has to do with the counterbalancing of machine employing movable heads operating at high speeds and particularly machines having heads operated by eccentric means on rotary shaft means. One type of machine to which my invention is well adapted-and in which I prefer to embody my invention-is a forming machine comprising opposed heads for operating on work positioned therebetween and which relatively move toward and away from each other and when closest together move laterally generally in the same direction. In my Patents Nos. 2,406,808 and 2,407,254, for example, there are illustrated forming machines comprising opposed sets of parallel shafts having eccentric means thereon and opposed heads, one mounted on the shafts of each set and carried by eccentric means thereon so that upon rotation of the shafts the heads move toward and away from each other and when closest-together move laterally generally in the same direction. My invention is applicable to such machines but is also applicable to other machines, as for example, machines in which one head moves in a circular 14 Claims. (01. 164-102) orbit and the cooperating head partakes simply of linear to and fro motion.

In my copending applications there are disclosed certain arrangements of counterwelghts for forming machines. In Patent No. 2,406,808 there are disclosed individual counterweights counterbalancing the working heads and which rotate with the respective shafts on which they are mounted. In Patent No. 2,407,254 I show counterweights each mounted on a plurality of shafts like the heads and spanning the space between cooperating shafts. The counterbalancing arrangements disclosed in my said copending applications have proved quite satisfactory.

For meeting certain specific conditions it may be desirable to employ separate counterweights on individual shafts of a forming machinebut to arrange the counterweights so that, although they effectively perform their counterbalanclng function by being mounted upon eccentrics carried by the shafts, they nevertheless do not rotate with the shafts as in the case of the counterweights disclosed in Patent No. 2,406,808 and do not span the space between parallel shafts as in the case of the counterweights disclosed in Patent No. 2,407,254. I herein disclose certain counterbalancing arrangements wherein individual counterweights are non-rotatively mounted on separate shafts of a forming machine. Means are provided for restraining the counterweights against rotating.

I provide a forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a working head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, a counterweight coopcrating with and operated by said second eccentric means and means separate from said second eccentric means for restraining said counterweight against rotating. The term eccentric means includes any means connected with a rotary shaft through which eccentric motion may be derived, as, for example, eccentric sleeves or what are generally known as eccentrics, cranks, etc.

The means for restraining the counterweights against rotating are preferably means other than eccentric means connecting the counterweights with a portion of the machine. A counterweight may have a portion projecting generally away from the eccentric means operating the counterweight in a direction generally parallel to the plane in which the eccentric means operates and means may be provided cooperating with said portion of the counterweight to guide the same so as to restrain the counterweight against rotating. The means for restraining the counterweight against rotating may include a member pivoted to a portion of the machine and cooperating with the counterweight. I desirably provide a guide disposed in guiding relationship with respect to the counterweight and relatively to which the counterweight reciprocates during operation of the machine. The guide may be pivoted or otherwise movably connected to a portion of the machine. The guide may be in the form of a sleeve receiving the projecting portion of the counterweight. In certain instances a single guide may serve two opposed counterwelghts. If desired a. link may be pivoted to a counterweight and to a portion of the machine to restrain the counterweight against rotating during operation of the machine.

Other details, objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following 3 description of certain present preferred embodiments thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown certain present preferred embodiments of the invention, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, partly inend elevation and partly in transverse cross-section, of a forming machine, the driving mechanism being omitted;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the forming machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified structure Figure 4 is a view similar 'to Figure 2 but of the structure shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figures 1 and 3 showing a further modified structure; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 2 and 4 but of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 and 2 a forming machine having an upper working head 2 and a lower working head 3, each operable in a circular orbit, the working heads cooperating with each other to act upon work passed therebetween. The work is fed through the machine in the crosswise direction viewing Figure 2 or in the direction perpendicular to the paper viewing Figure 1. The feeding and guiding means for the work form no part of the present invention and hence are not shown. The work may be fed and guided by hand, but I prefer to employ means for that purpose, the feeding and guiding means of my Patent No, 2,406,808 being recommended. I have shown on the upper head 2 a punch 8 adapted to cooperate with a die5 onthe lower head 3 for either stamping or dieforming work which may, for example, be strip metal. Suitable die sets [0 may be employed.

The heads 2 and 3 are mounted upon parallel shafts. The head 2 is mounted upon shafts 6 and i and the head 3 is mounted upon shafts 8 and 9. The shafts 6 and I are disposed at the same elevation and the shafts 8 and 9 are disposed at the same elevation. The shafts 6 and i are the same distance apart as are the shafts 8 and 9, the axes of the shafts 6 and 8 lying in a common vertical plane parallel to the vertical plane containing the axes of the shafts 1 and 9. I

The machine frame comprises uprights II in which the shafts 6, l, 8 and 9 are journaled.

In Figure 1 only one of the uprights is shown. the portion of the mechanism to the left thereof and which includes the companion upright and the mechanism for driving the shafts being cut away to save space and allowv the showing of the illustrated parts to a relatively large scale. Any suitable mechanism for driving the shafts may be provided, as, for example, mechanism a as disclosed in my said patents. The uprights I l are joined by members l2 and by face portions forming a casing in which the gearing is disposed. The shafts project from the casin the two upper shafts 6 and 1 carrying at their projecting portions the upper head 2 and the two lowershafts 8 and 9 carrying at their projecting portions the lower head 3. The projecting shaft portions also carry the counterweights presently to be described. The outer ends of the shafts are journaled in outboard bearings carried by pedestals l3.

In operation the two upper shafts 6 and 1 turn at the same speed in the same direction and the two lower shafts 8 and 9 turn at the same speed as that of the shafts 8 and 1 but in the opposite direction. For example, if the work isto move from right to left, viewing Figure 2, the upper shafts 6 and 'l rotate clockwise and the lower shafts 8 and 9 rotate counterclockwise. This is accomplished by the gearing above referred to and which is not shown since no invention in the gearing is, here claimed. The gearing consti tutes power-transmitting means for rotating unison the shafts 6, l, 8 and 9 in the directions indicated. Power may be applied through of the shafts and may be derived from any suitable source, such as an electric motor.

The projecting portions of the shafts 6, 1, 8 and 9 carry eccentrics in the form of sleeves upon which the heads 2 and 3 and the counterweights to be described are mounted. Desirably each eccentric sleeve comprises an inner eccentric bushing and an outer eccentric collar as disclosed in Patent No. 2,407,254, so that by appropriate angular adjustment of the bushing and collar the throw or amplitude of the head or counterweight, as the case may be, as well as the relative angular positions of the head and counterweight on the shafts may be controlled.

Since, however, the bushing and collar structure forms no part of the present invention the eccentrics are shown more or less diagrammatically simply as eccentric portions of the shafts.

Each of the four shafts 6, 1, 8 and 9 has an eccentric portion l4 upon which one of the heads is mounted and an eccentric portion l5 upon which is mounted a counterweight l6, there being four counterweights, one mounted on each eccentric l5. Thus, while each of the heads 2 and 3 is mounted upon two shafts 6 and I or 8 and 9, each counterweight is mounted upon one shaft only. The eccentric portions l4 and I5 of the respective shafts are disposed generally opposite each other or are relatively angularly displaced about that is to say, so that whena head is in its extreme upper position its counterweights are in their extreme lower positions and vice versa.

Means are provided for restraining the counterweights against rotating with the shafts as the latter rotate. Each counterweight has a portion ll projecting generally away from the eccentric upon which it is mounted generally parallel to the plane in which the eccentric operates. Each portion I! in the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of uniform cross-section, i, e., circular, Pivoted to the upright H, each by a bolt I8, are four guides l9, each comprising a sleeve 20 receiving the projecting portion ll of one of the counterweights I6. The guides restrain the counterweights from rotating, but the counterweights effectively perform their function since they are mounted on the eccentrics l5. During operation of the machine each counterweight moves in a circular path so its projecting portion I1 is reciprocated relatively to its guide l8, each projecting portion I! being formed to make a smooth guiding fit in its sleeve 20. At the same time, since the angular position of the counterweight is continually changing, the guide I9 oscillates through a small angle about the axis of the bolt l8. Thus the counterweights, although separately applied to individual shafts, are in a simple and effective manner restrained against rotating.

In Figures 3 and 4 there is shown a structure which is identical with the structure of Figures 1 and 2 except for the'means for restraining the counterweights against rotating. Elements desigtions 22,

nated by reference numerals 2a to Ila, inclusive, in Figures 3 and 4 are identical respectively with elements designated by reference numerals 2 to i1, inclusive, in Figures 1 and 2.

In the structure of Figures 3 and 4, instead of employing four pivoted guide sleeves as in the structure of Figures 1 and 2, I employ only two floating sleeves 2|, eachdisposed between a vertically aligned pair of counterweights [6a and receiving at its opposite ends the respective proiecting portions Ila of the two counterweights. Each sleeve 2| has a bore therethrough from end to end, the bore having a portion 22 adjacent each and having a guiding fit with the corresponding projecting portion Fla and an enlarged central portion 23 connecting the guiding por- The sleeves 2i restrain the counterweights against rotating, and since each sleeve receives the projecting portions of two vertically aligned counterweights and since the eccentrics which operate those counterweights are alike and similarly arranged on their respective shafts, which rotate in opposite directions, the sleeves always maintain vertical orientation and partake of horizontal reciprocation in a right and left direction in the plane of the paper viewing Figure 4. I find that ordinarily the sleeves 2| will maintain themselves at substantially constant height approximately equidistant from the axes of the upper and lower shafts carrying the counterweights with which they cooperate. Thus I restrain the counterweights against rotating by very simple means not even connected with the machine frame but having operative connection with two vertically aligned counterweights only.

In Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a structure which is identical with the structure of Figures 1 and 2 except for the means for restraining the counterweights against rotating. Elements designated by reference numerals 2b to I'll), inclusive, in Figures 5 and 6 are identical respectively with elements designated by reference numerals 2 to H, inclusive, in Figures 1 and 2.

In the structure of Figures 5 and 6, instead of employing four pivoted guide sleeves as in the structure of Figures 1 and 2, two plain doubleended sleeves as in the structure of Figures 3 and 4, I provide four links 24 each pivoted at 25 to the projecting portion Nb of one of the counterweights I61) and at 26 to the upright I lb. The links 24 restrain the counterweights against r0- tating while permitting them to perform their functions as in the previously described structures. Thus again by extremely simple expedient I am enabled to mount separate counterweights on the respective shafts and restrain those counterweights against rotating,

While I have shown and described certain present preferred embodiments of the invention it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A forming machine comprising opposed heads for operating on work positioned therebetween and which relatively move toward and away from each other and when closest together move laterally generally in the same direction, a plurality of parallel shafts on which one of the heads is mounted, eccentric means on said shafts carrying said head to impart the desired movement to said head upon rotation of said shafts, a counterweight mounted solely on one of said shafts, eccentric means on the shaft on which the counterweight is mounted carrying the counterweight and means for restraining the counterweight against rotatin 2. A forming machine comprising a plurality of rotary shafts, first eccentric means thereon, a working head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on each of said rotary shafts, a separate counterweight cooperating with and operated by each of said second eccentric means and means for restraining each of said counterweights against rotating.

3. A forming machine comprising opposed sets of parallel shafts, eccentric means on said shafts, opposed heads, one mounted on the shafts of each set and carried by certain of the eccentric means thereon so that upon rotation of said shafts said heads move toward and away from each other and when closest together move laterally generally in the same direction, counterweights, one mounted on each of said shafts and carried by other of the eccentric means thereon, and means for restraining the counterweights against rotating.

4. A forming machine comprising rotary'shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, a counterweight cooperating with and operated by said second eccentric means and means including a member pivoted to a portion of the machine and cooperating with said counterweight restraining said counterweight against rotating.

5. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, a counterweight cooperating with and operated by said second eccentric means and a guide pivoted to a portion of the machine and disposed in guiding relationship with respect to said counterweight and relatively to which said counterweight reciprocates during operation of said machine.

6. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, a counterweight cooperating with and operated by said second eccentric means, said counterweight having a projecting portion, and a guide movably connected with a portion of the machine receiving said projecting portion of said counterweight and relatively to which said counterweight reciprocates during operation of said machine.

7. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, a counterweight cooperating with and operated by said second eccentric means, said counterweight having a. projecting portion of uniform cross-section, and a sleeve movably connected with a portion of the machine receiving said projecting portion of said counterweight and relatively to which said counterweight reciprocates during operation of said machine.

8. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, opposed second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, separate counterweights cooperating with and operated by said respective opposed second eccentric means and a guide disposed in guiding relationship with respect to both of said counterweights and relatively to which said counterweights reciprocate during operation of said machine.

9. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, opposed second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, separate counter'weights cooperating with and operated by said respective opposed second eccentric means, each of said counterweights having a projecting portion, and a guide sleeve receiving the projecting portions of both of said counterweights and relatively to which said counterweights reciprocate during operation of said machine.

10. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, two pairs of opposed second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, separate counterweights cooperating with and operated by said respective second eccentric means and two guides, each disposed in guiding relationship with respect to both counterweights cooperating with one of said pairs of opposed second eccentric means and relatively to which said counterweights reciprocate during operation of said machine.

11. A forming machine comprising rotary shaft means, first eccentric means thereon, a head cooperating with and operated by said first eccentric means, second eccentric means on said rotary shaft means, a counterweight cooperating with and operated by said second eccentric means and a link pivoted to said counterweight and to a portion of said machine restraining said counterweight against rotating during operation of said machine.

12. In a forming machine, a plurality of parallel shafts, means for rotating said shafts in unlson, two sets of eccentric means on said shafts,

8 a working head mounted on said shafts and carried by one set of eccentric means. separate counterweights mounted on said respective shafts and carried by'the other set of eccentric means and means restraining said counterweights against rotating during operation of said machine.

13. In a forming machine, a plurality of parallel shafts, means for rotating said shafts in unison, a plurality of sets of eccentric means on said shafts, working head means comprising at least one member spanning the space between said shafts and mounted on said shafts collectively and carried by at least one set of eccentric means, separate counterweights mounted on said respective shafts and carried by at least one other set of eccentric means and means restraining said counterweights against rotating during operation of said machine.

14. In a forming machine, a plurality of parallel shafts, means for rotating said shafts in unison, a plurality of sets of eccentric means on said shafts, working head means comprising at least one member spanning the space between said shafts and mounted on said shafts collectively and carried by at least one set of eccentric means, separate counterweights mounted on said respective shafts and carried by at least one other set of eccentric means and means including guide means disposed in guiding relationship with respect to said counterweights and relatively to which said counterweights reciprocate during operation of said machine for restraining said counterweights against rotating.

GUY O. CONNER.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Phillips June 11, 1935 Number 

